Investigation underway after fourth Hancock State Prison inmate dies in custody
HANCOCK COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) — A Hancock State Prison inmate died in custody, marking the fourth inmate to die in the facility this year.
Hancock County Chief Deputy Coroner Tonya Thurman told WGXA that 36-year-old Jacorey Pearson was found deceased in his cell around 5:00 a.m on Tuesday.
His body has since been turned over to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy to find out the official cause of death, Thurmond said.
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Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) officials said Pearson was serving four years for criminal firearm possession by a convicted felon out of Coweta County, with a maximum release date of September 2028.
His death comes after 55-year-old Steven Wood died in an altercation with his cellmate in January, and 32-year-old Jaylin Bell and 27-year-old Gerrod Johnson died after being stabbed in Feburary.
The GDC said the investigation into Pearson’s death is ongoing.
GDC prisons have been on a statewide lockdown after a string of “gang-related” fights left multiple inmates injured at Smith, Willcox, Dooly, Hays and Valdosta state prisons last week.
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By Jordan Stevenson and Leah Kincaid